Stamp-affixing machine



H. H. DANIELS. V STAMP AEFIXING MACHINE. APPLICATION f lLED NDVs 2l. 1.918.

' 1,433,187. l v Pafented Oct. 24, 1922. @2" 5&6 ,50

3 SHEETSLSHEET l.

H. H. DANIELS.

STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

. I APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2l, 1918- I 1,433,187. Patented 0615.24, 1922.

A' xl H., H. DANIELS. STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE. APLlcATloN FILED Nov. 21. 191s.

Patented Oct. 24, 1922.

. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented @et 24, i922.

unire l HARRY H. DANIELS, OF 'WINTHROR MASSACHUSETTS.

STAMP-AFFIXING MACHINE.

Application led November 2l, 1918.

To all who/m it may concern.'

Be it known that l, HARRY H. DANmLs', a citizen of the United States, and resident of lliinthrop, county of Suffolk, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented an improvement in Stamp-Amazing Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a'specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts in each of the several views.

This invention relates to stamp aiiiringV machines of a type adapted tohold a supply of stamps such as postage stamps provided in ribbon form and made up into a roll, and to feed out and apply the same as required for use. The present type of machine is also one adapted to apply moisture to the surface to receive the stamp just in advance of the laying of the stamp thereon, and is equipped with a roller for applying the stamp to the moistened surface, which roller is also the instrumentality operative for feeding the stamps from the roll to the applying point. i prime object of the invention is to provide a device of this character e:-;ceedingly simple in construction but elficient and reliable in operation and having no fragile or delicate parts apt to get out of order or cause trouble in use. One important feature of the invention consists in improved means for feeding the stamps from the roll to the applying point, this consisting in a slidable plate adapted to grip the stamp ribbon frictionally on the perforation line, into on angular corner where the stamp is held frictionally as the plate is slid forward positively by suitable operating means preferably operated by the applying roll, thus dispensing with delicate and fragile spring fingers which have heretofore been usually employed for engaging the perforations in the stamp ribbon to feed the same forward. According to a further feature of the invention l provide a water container equipped with a, moisture applying wick to engage the stamp receiving surface some little distance in advance of the applying roll and yieldable relatively to said roll upon engagement with the stamp receiving surface so that in use it is' not necessary for the operator to bring the surfaces of the applying roll and tl e wick into precisely the plane of the receiving` surface before the device vcan be used to apply the stamp. A further object is to provide improved simpli- Serial No. 263,600.

fied means for locking the applying roll against further movement after a stamp has been fed out and applied thereby, such means also preferably including provision whereby the roll is automatically released for another operation as soon as lifted from the stamp receiving surface. Another object is to provide improved means for clamping the stamp ribbon adjacent the severing point and in combination therewith improved severing means. Another object is to provide an improved construction and arrangement of parts whereby the machine may be instantly opened up for any necessary attention or inspection, and in combination therewith an improvedl locking device that embodies eX- ceptional reliability and simplicity. Another object is to provide an improved applying roller of sectional form specially adapted for taking care of irregularities in the stamp receiving surface. Another object is to provide an improved removable and pivotal mounting ofthe water tank. Another obj ect is to provide improved means for regulating the outflow of water from the tank to the applying wick. A still further object is to provide means adjacent to and co-.operative with the stamp roll and its holder whereby the curling tendency is eliminated from the stamp ribbon as it is delivered. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description, and the distinctive features of novelty will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation showing the de vice in operative position;

Fig. l1 is an elevation of the water tank removed;

Fig. 2 is a detail section on line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view showing a part of the top of the water tank and illustrating the means for controlling the iiow of water;

Fig. l is a fragmentary elevation showing a part of the interior construction including device for ironing out and eliminating the curl in the stamp ribbon;

F ig. 5 is a side elevation partly of the exterior of the machine and partly broken away to show interior construction;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the stamp clamping and severing means,

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Fig. 7 is a detail front elevation thereof;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation showing the machine opened for inspection or attention;

F ig. 9 is a lengthwise vertical section of the machine; j Y

F ig. 10 is a detail perspective of the applying roll removed and with` portions broken away;

Fig. 11 is a face view of a lock tumbler removed;

F ig. 12 is a sectional View of the lock;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the stamp feeding slide and parts coopera tive therewith; and

Fig. 1li is an elevation illustrative of the feeding slide mechanism.

The frame of the machine comprises a base 10 and an upper housing 11 'pivoted thereto at the rear as indicated at 12 so that said housing may be swung upward to a perpendicular position with respect to said base as seen in Fig. 8. The base 10 carries the water tank and the stamp feeding slide mechanism while the upperhousing 11 is equipped as a holder for the stamp roll and cariies the applying roller and other operative instrumentalities. The stamp applying roller 13 is pivoted at 145 to the lower forward portion of the housing 11 and is equipped with gearing connections as later described to operate the slide device for feeding out the stamp ribbon. In accordance with my invention this roll 13 consists in a series, illustratively shown as five in number, of resilient ring sections 15 of soft rubber or the like, these ring sections being individually mounted on a metallic or like core 16 which is equipped. with spacing ribs 16a adapted to hold the respective ring sections in position and preferably spaced slightly apart, this slight spacing apart of such roller sections permitting a more free individual yielding and adaptation thereof to any irregularities that may be presented in the stamp receiving surface. Thus the proper functioning of the applying roll for feeding out and pressing down the stamp is insured even though the backing against which the device operates may be more or less uneven as often results from the variable bulging produced in the Vcorner of an envelope by the folded papers therein. In accordance with my invention improved means is provided whereby the hinged top housing 11 may be locked to the base 10 in a manner so as to be' secure against casual tampering'. F or this purpose the base is equipped with a xed hook member 17 and the housing .11 is equipped with a swinging hook member 18 to co-operate therewith pivoted thereto at 19. This hook member which is in the form of a curved lever arm has at an intermediate point a forward projection 20 which is adapted to co-operate with the several ring discs 21L of a tumbler combination lock 21. The discs 21a are each formed with a radial slot 21b and when all these slots are in register the projection 20 may be pressed thereinto releasing the hook 18 and permitting the top housing 11 to open.v The lock 21 is equipped with a usual graduated face 21c equipped with a knurled operating head 21d, this face and head being exposed at the side of the inachine and the lock being bodily removable. for changing the combination or other attention by removing a transverse eotter pin 21e passed through the stem thereofLin a manner that will be readily understood. The lever by which the hook 18 is carried is equipped with a tail portion 18a which is engaged by one end of a tension lspring 18b anchored to the housing in a manner tending to hold the hook 18 in locked engagement with the hook 17. portion 181 is formed with an arcuate rear edge 18C which is engaged by the end of a slide 22 slidably guided on a disc 23 said disc constituting a removable side of the stamp roll holder. The housing has fixed thereto a pin or post 24.- at the center of the stamp roll cavity and constituting an axis on which the stamp roll is mounted to turn. This pin is provided with a head 24L with a reduced neck just back thereof and the slide 22 is formed with a slot 22u of a size to fit said neck but be held by the head 24a, this slot being opposite said head when the slide 22 is in posit-ion to lock the cover disc E23 against removal. The slot 22 merges into a 'larger disc opening 22h toward the outer end of the slide 22 and in position to register with the'head 24E when the slide 22 is pressed forward. F or actuating the slide E22 itis equipped with a head 22C projecting through a radial slot 23a of the disc 23. Since the inner end of the slide 22 normally rests against the curved edge 18c of the hook lever 18, it follows that the spring 18b will normally hold the slide 22 pressed outward and thus at once hold the hooks 17, 18 in interlocking relation and also hold the slide 22 in position to lock the cover disc 23 in place, while upon pressing the slide 2Q inward by means of the head 22C, it is caused to release the cover disc 23 and at the same time press the hook 18 out of engagement with the hook 17 to permit opening of the housing, all this occurring only after the combination lock has been actuated for the combination to which it is set. 1t is to be specially noted that with the present construction the projection 20 does not automatically snap into the slots 21 of the lock tumblers as soon as they come'into register, but that a further positive actuation of the head 22C is necessary. Thus possibility of tampering with the lock is minimized since as there is no click or other automatic indication when the proper opening combina- The lever tail Lies-,ier

tion'has been reached;l the operator can only open the device by making a further separate movement of the head 22 after Vthel combination' has 'been' reached and without 'any :other auxiliary indication. j

In' accordance with my invention moisture ward extension of; the base *'10 and to the' upper portion of which the housing pivot 12 is applied." Me'ans'is provided whereby the water tank is yieldingly lheld on definite pivots'sorastobe capable of easy removal and replacement.A For this purpose the base ofthe tank'is formed `withl depressed socket` points 27 at oppositesides' and these vare engagedfby ball heads" 28k carried at the lower ends 'of spring plates 29 fixed `to the lugs 10a, 10b." Thus the tankis Apermitted free'limite'd swinging'inovenient the extentthereoffbeing determinedby the upperpor-l tion thereof `coming against the adjacent wall 10c of the base and it isnorinally spring pressed rdownward by a leaf spring 28 secured tothebase andfpressing againstfthe projecting portion 26a. The tank is provided with av suitable-'filling opening normally closed'by a screwr plug 26h. y is important that water be delivered tothe wiekQ `only in sufficient4 quantity for requirements, T preferably provide means whereby the delivery of water to the wick may be adjusted and varied required. T accomplishy this in the preferred.embodiment shown by kvarying thevent to the vtank by means of a swingingfplate 3.0 pivoted to the top of the tank at 31 and havinga `series of holes 32 of diversesizes therein-and adapted to be selectively brought into register with a hole Vin the top ofthe tank.v

The stamp roll` is fitted on the post 24 in a holder cavityBB provided therefor in the top housing and it hasv` atits bottom' a delivery mouth 34 through whiclrthe stamp ribbon r is drawn.l This mouth as shown is relatively narrow, i. e., only large enough to afford easy volea 1ance for the stamp ribbon passing therethrough" and the stationaryV wall of the housing-at ther frontside thereof is broughtupto constitute an abrupt edge 35'around which theV stamp'ribbon is drawn atan abrupt angle and flexed oppositely Vto the direction of the curl therein as it comes from theroll'so thatthis curling tendency is substantially eliminated. This drawing out `movement ofthe stamp ribbon is accomplished by means of slide plate 36 guided to'operate in the bottom of the base 1iO'being heldin place by rails 36 at the sides'of'the base, and lfitted under a stationaryl slottedplate 37 secured to the base and with which the plate 36 is associated in a manner "so Vas to permit endwise slidingV movement buty preventl displacement otherwise. The slide plate 36 is engaged by a tension spring 38 anchored to the baseand tending constantly to draw said slide to its backward limit of movement. Fitted to cooperate w'ith the' slide 86 and movable on plate 37 is a secondary stamp clamping slide 39 engaged by a light tension springl() Aanchored to the base and 'tending constantly to draw said slide backward so that its rear edge will grip or clamp the stamp ribbonA agai'nstan upright portion of the slide 36 as indicated at 36h. The slide 36 is moved forward by operative connections from the roll 13 for feeding outy a stamp whenever said roll is drawn over `a receiving surface and then released to be drawn backward by the spring 38 in readiness for another movement. For `this purpose the slide 36 is equipped with an upstanding prong 41 enf gageable by a two lobed cam wiper 4:2 which is piyoted to the housing at 43 and has rigid therewith a pinion 44 which through an in termediate gear Ll5 pivoted to the housing is driven from a pinion d6 rigid with the roll 13. Tt is to be noted that the pinions Llei, 4G are the saine size and thus it follows that one of the two cam lobes a2 will be moved forward to actuate the prong 41 at each half rotation of the applying roll and as seen in Fig. 5 said lobes are of suc-h a form that they will then release the prong t1 at the end of a complete forward movement of the slide 36 to permit it to 'be drawn backward by its spring. The slide 36 is also preferably equipped with a prong vat its rear constituting` a stop with which a cam lobe i2 engages to stop the cam and lock it against. further movement after it has completed a forward feeding movement of the slide, and it is not released until the inachine is picked up and the roll 13 freed. Tt is to be noted that the cam lobes i2 are of some little larger diameter than the applying roll and this thus causes an accelerated advance of the feed slide 36 making some l little slack in the stamp ribbon between the clampino` point thereof on the slide and the applying roll, this slack being taken up by the final pull imparted by the roll which se'vers the stamp after the clamp is engaged as hereinafter explained. From the clamping pointSGb thev stamp ribbon passes between the slide plate 36 and the secondary slide 39, ver a severing edge 4:8 which is mounted just` behind. the applying roll.

his severing edge is preferably tapered downward and backward towards each side from a central point to facilitate the severingaction. edge is carried by a depending projection of a lever 419 fulerumed to thehousing at 50 and having adepending bell` crank bealr, l operative to clamp the.

severing point as the severing occurs.` This Y prevents more than one stamp 'from being drawn out at once and hence there can be no uncounted stamp. For preventing any vbaclivmrd movement of the stamp .ribbonl Within the machine when it would be otherivise tree to do so l provide a swinging dog 52 pivoted onian intermediate portiono't the pinfulcrumg@ to constitute a clip, this dogliaving a tail portionvthereot engaged by the coil spring 53 mounted on the pin and stationarily anchored at its other end. This baci; la-igch clip therefore is always pressed downward in position to engage the stamp ribbon a short way back ofthe severing edge and in a manner so as to be drawn downward into chiiripiiig enn gagement with the stam-p ribbon upon any tendency to baclrivard movement thereof while permitting relatively :free forward movement thereof. i l pix; ,raoly equip the machine with a counter to indicate and record the number of stamps given out. This counter indicated at 54 is mounted on a shelf 55 provided on an interior portion ot the housing and it is operated by a gear shoivn as -rigidivith the pinion and4 the cam lobes 4:2. The housing is provided lwith a suitable sight opening 5i" ior reading this counter. lt .is to be noted that the present mechanism eliminates tho necessitv 'lor light and :Fragile sqniogl iingers which have heretofore been considered necessary iior engaging the peri'oration line in a stamp ribbon to ieed the same 'haiai'ard.y lilhen the stamp ribbon is drawn out lto iced a stamp by the action oi' the applying roll the secondary slide 39 will be moved lorvvard 'to some extent against the tension oit its spring at thesame time the main slide is moved forward and as a perforation line reached in the stamp ribbon this weakened line Will l bend around the edge et the secondary slide 39 stopping the further movement ofi lthe stamp ribbon past the same, 'it being understood that the partsare so proportioned `that vthis perforation line does not come into register Wit-h the edge ot said plate until Aap-` jroximatel 1 the end oft' `the i'eed movement 'and hence the abrupt folding ofthe Wealtened perforation line around this edge is only required to taire care oi -|"nali vari- `ations in distance between perforation lines. I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific terms Without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereoi, and l theretoredesire the present embodiment to be considered in all rebachA latchv ather than to the foregoing description to indicate ythe scope of thev invention.

Having described my invention, what l claimas new and desire to secure vby Letters Patent is:

l.' Stamp atlixing mechanism, lcomprising a magazine stamp holder adapted to hold a stamp ribbon, an applying member, an internvdiate severing` device, and means associated with said severing device and operated by the stamp ribbon when placed under ten? sion for clamping the stamp Vribbon just baci; of the severing point.

Stamp aliifiing mechanism, comprising s a magazine stamp holder, an'applying roll,

an vintermediate severing device, and means,

connected Withand operated by said sever- D Just back of the severing point.

'ttamp allixing mechanism, comprising a magazine stamp holder, an applying roll, a movably mounted severing device, and a clamp connected with said severing. device to be actuated therebyior clamping the stamp ribbon back of the severing point.

ing device for Ciampino the stamp ribbon 4t. Stamp all-innig mechanism, comprisingI a magazine stamp holder, an applying' mem bei",` a severing edge having a central projecting portion withY side portions receding therefrom, said severing edge having a pivotal mounting, and aclamp associatedthere 4Vwith and operated thereby for clamping the stamp ribbon as the severing takes place.

Stamp aiiining mechanism, comprising a magazine stamp1 holder, an applying member, a severinge'dge pivotally mounted adjacent saidapplying member and having connected therewith a clamp adapted to grip the stamp ribbon back of the severinepoint as thesevering occurs, f

Stamp aiiixing mechanism, comprising a base equipped with means t'or controlling the t'eeding'out of the stamps and with a severing device, and an upperhousing pivoted at its rear to said base and equipped with a magazine stamp holder and with an applying roll, s i

Stamp aixing mechanism, comprising a base equipped With means for ,controlling the feeding out oi stamps and with a severH ing device, an upper housing movably entherewith equipped with a magazine stamp holder and with an applying roll, and means for locking said housing to said base.

8. Stamp aiiixing mechanism, comprising` a base equipped with meansior controlling the teeding out of stamps and With a severing device, an upper housing pivoted thereto equipped with a magazine stamp holder and with an applying roll, said stamp holder having a detachable side closure, and a single locking device adapted to loclr said housalso to lock said side closure against removal.

9. Stamp aliixing mechanism, comprising a base equipped With means tor controlling the feeding out ot stamps and with a Water tank, an upper housing pivoted thereto for opening movement and equipped With a magazine stamp holder and an applying roll, said stamp holder having a removable closure member, a single locking` device ar ranged to lock said closure member in place and also to lock said housing in operative relation with said base, and a combination tumbler device controlling said locking de vice, said locking device constructed and arranged to require a manual actuation separate from the actuation' of said tumbler to release the same.

10. Stamp aifixing mechanism, comprising a magazine stamp holder adapted tohold a stamp ribbon, and an applying roll associated therewith adapted for pressing the stamps onto a receiving surface consisting in resilient elements separately mounted and spaced from one another.

1l. Stamp ailixing mechanism, comprising a magazine stamp holder adapted to hold a stamp ribbon, and an applying roll associv ated therewith adapted for pressing the stamps onto a receiving surface consisting in a plurality of resilient rings mounted in spaced apart relation on a central core.

12. Stamp ailixing mechanism, comprising a magazine stamp holder adapted to hold a stamp ribbon, and an applying roll associated therewith adapted for pressing the stamps onto a receiving surface composed of` a plurality of resilient ring members mounted side by side.

13. ln a stamp aitixing machine, an apl plying roll adapted tor pressing stamps onto a receiving surface consisting in a plurality ot resilient rubber rings mounted side by side in spaced apart relation.

14u. Stamp atfiXing mechanism, comprising a magazine stamp holder, an applying roll receii'ing said stamp ribbon from the holder, and a water tank pivoted in proximity to said applying roll on yieldable pivot members so as to be capable of easy removal, said tanlr having a Wick arranged to moisten a receiving surface slightly in advance of said roll.

15. Stamp aiiiring mechanism, comprising a magazine stamp holder,` an applying roll, and a Water tanl; having a Jforward extension equipped with a Wick adjacent said applying roll, said tank having a rearward body portion mounted Von yielding pivots so as to be capable of easy removal.

16. Stamp ailixing mechanism, comprising a stamp applying member, and a ta-nl; equipped With a Wick mounted adjacent said applying member, said tanlr having a vent passage with a movable plate tted thereover and having diverse sized vent holes for selective register with said vent passage to determine the amount of Water delivered to said Wick.`

ln testimony whereof, l have signed my name to this specification.

HARRY H. DANELS. 

